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The increasingly popular practice of yoga has many health benefits, including many for prenatal women.

In addition to the many physical benefits of the practice, prenatal yoga assists women through the preparation process for birth by providing you space for inner reflection and providing a healthy outlet for your physical body and emotions. Taking group prenatal classes also provides a supportive community during the process of pregnancy.Increased Circulation and Focus When you practice yoga, you stretch your muscles and the tissues that surround them. Prenatal yoga stimulates your organs, promotes oxygen, blood circulation and intentional breathing, and allows you to focus your attention inwardly through meditation and imagery. Reduction of Lower Back Pain You can carry yourself and your belly in a more integrated manner through prenatal yoga as you become more acutely aware of proper body alignment techniques. This can help decrease the degree of pelvic tilt that is associated with pregnancy and thereby alleviate the lower back pain a pelvic tilt causes.Reduction of Other Back Pain and Fatigue It can be challenging to find a comfortable space for yourself to sleep during pregnancy. This causes your spinal alignment to become compromised. Prenatal yoga teaches you how to gain more spinal fluidity by stretching your back in specific ways that assist your spinal alignment and integrity.Reduction in Joint Swelling Regular, consistent prenatal yoga practice promotes and improves your blood and oxygen circulation throughout your body. This helps decrease the amount of swelling you experience around your wrists and ankles during pregnancy.Improved Digestion As your baby grows, your intestinal organs will move around. This can cause you to experience indigestion. Prenatal yoga includes exercises (such as gentle, safe forward bends) that help aid in your overall digestive flow.Preparation for BirthThe squatting exercises included in prenatal yoga in particular help to tone your pelvic floor muscles, enabling you to gain strength to be comfortable squatting for a long period of time. Even if you decide not to squat during labor, you will need to be able to use these muscles effectively when it is time to push your baby out of your body during labor.Community and Support Being part of group prenatal yoga classes helps you form a community with the support of new friends who are going through what you are experiencing. Some prenatal yoga classes even include discussions about topics related to pregnancy, such as nursing and birth plans.Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/39185-benefits-prenatal-yoga/#ixzz2Pt7RDNZz